Pascal Struijk
Leeds United’s season has been punctuated with several troublesome and problematic injuries, often to key players. While Pascal Struijk has some way to go before he is regarded as integral as Patrick Bamford or Kalvin Phillips, the young Dutchman’s commanding presence in defence has been sorely missed at times this year. Speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport,
Pascal Struijk said: “It was really uncomfortable and really annoying for me because I wanted to play in the times we were struggling. But it’s a good thing I’m back now. It was stress reactions. So, just before a stress fracture you get stress reactions in your foot and it was really uncomfortable for me to walk and to push off, so every time I would push off sideways I would feel like I was dropping through, so I had no power to go left or right which is no good for me to play in the team. If I walk with someone and he goes inside, I’d be on the floor and he goes past me so I would be of no use.”
Struijk missed five Premier League matches and the FA Cup Third Round tie versus West Ham United at the beginning of January with the problem. The defender suggested his injury was sustained having built up over an extended period:
Pascal Strujik said: “[It happened] in training, I just kicked the ball and that was the moment where it was too much because it was something that built up. It is quite unique because what’s so annoying about it is, it takes time because for it to heal, you need to rest and if I want to play I cannot rest so you have to mix what you’re doing.”
Struijk is expected to feature in the Whites’ Premier League fixture against Manchester United at Elland Road this weekend. Kick-off versus Ralf Rangnick’s men is at 2pm on Sunday February 20.
